Conference hips::uk_audioo

    Great Idea,
    
    This moderator has a DUAL set up (Not DUAL the German manufacturer),
    on account of the fact that he is sharing a house.
    
    One set up is a Panasonic HiFi Video thru Technics Amp to Tannoy
    Mercury Speakers, this also goes to a 24" Ferguson. It is superb
    for films.
    
    The other set up is a
        REGA Planar II with A&R E77 cartridge
        YAMAHA A-320 Amplifier
        Wharfedale Diamond Loudspeakers on LINN Index Speaker Stands.
       *Kenwood Tuner/Timer
       *Phillips CD-473
    
    * are owned by my "house-mate"
    
    It is a great cheap and cheerful HiFi Setup, which at the moment
    is ripe for upgrading.
    
    Thinking of the amp first and have been listening to A&R Arcam Alpha
    and Cambridge P40.
    
    Well that covers the budget end.
    
    Your turn Dave.
    
    Mark Jeffery

    Good idea, Keith.
    
    My set up is as follows:-
    
    Linn Sondek turntable, Linn Ittok arm, Linn Asaka cartridge,
    Naim Audio NAC62 preamp, powered by a Naim HICAP supply, and
    a Naim NAP140 power amp, all driving Linn Kan speakers thru Naim
    cable. the speakers are on Linn's own stands. I also use a Technics
    STZ11 analogue tuner (very basic) fed from a roof-mounted aerial,
    and an el-cheapo Pioneer CT200 cassette deck for making up car tapes.
    Since my amp doesn't have a headphone socket, in the interests of
    domestic tranquility I also have a headphone amp called "The Headcase",
    as sold by HiFi News/Record Review, which drives my Sennheiser HD430
    'phones *very* nicely.
    
    I don't use a CD player yet; a lot of the stuff I like isn't available
    yet on CD, and I'm not too chuffed at paying around 1.5-2 x the
    price for what is available. I guess I'll get one some day.
    
    The household TV (a Grundig with stereo audio-out jacks) is also
    wired in via the stereo, which is surprisingly worthwhile soundwise,
    especially on music broadcasts even though it's still mono right
    now. Before getting the Grundig the mono audio-out jack on the video
    found its way to the amp, still worth doing.
    
    I also keep a Sony FM-Walkman in my briefcase, so I can enjoy my
    fave tapes when stuck in hotels, etc. on courses. It's not strictly
    hifi, but it's fun and that's the main thing.
    
    Dave

    
    
    In my living room I have a ghetto blaster.
    
    However, in my work room I have a couple of Garrard decks, with
    a Citronic professional quality mixer - a couple of KEF speakers
    and amplifiers. The cartriges are Shure M44's. I also have a Broadcast 
    electronics 7 1/2 IPS cartridge machine (NAB) and a large patch
    panel set up. The whole thing isn't exactly hi-fi - but its very
    flexible and eminently experimentable on!

    
    I'm forgetting myself.
    
    I also have an el-cheapo Panasonic Cassette Deck, which I think
    is the CT-250. Great Sound, I bought it off a friend, when he upgraded
    to a �150 Yamaha K-340. He's not sure it was a good upgrade now!
    
    I also have a Walkman Professional DC-2 which I am very pleased
    with.
    
    Cheers.
    
    Mark.

    The only thing lurking in my living room is my wife! Seriously,
    my setup has a room all its' own - which has its' good and bad points.
    The living room does contain the video gear and some home grown
    Electro-Voice speakers; but that's a story for another conference.
    
    The system room is a 10'x12' size (yeah, we count funny) space that
    hasn't had any special sonic treatments (although I'm gonna try
    some soon). Since we plan to move in a few years (the next house
    WILL have a PLANNED audio room), I'm not going to do anything drastic
    or costly to the existing room.
    
    Like any other audiophile, I'd love to upgrade my system. And like
    most audiophiles, I've got about three times the money in software
    (records, tapes, cd's) than I do in the hardware. Anyway, such as
    it is, this is what fills my house with sound:
    
    B&O 3000 Turntable 
    
    B&O MMC1 Cartridge
                       
    Carver DTL-100 Compact Disc Player
    (The "DTL" in the model number refers to Carver's Digital Time Lens,
     featured on this player, reputed to make harsh sounding cd's less
     strident. It does make a difference on some cd's).
    
    Carver Receiver 2000
     (Carver's top of the line receiver - has Sonic Hologram Generator,
      Asymmetrical FM Charge-Coupled Dectector, etc, etc. Tons of power.
      But I'm really lusting for separates now - although I'd probably
      stick with Carver's FM Tuner).
    
    Nakamichi BX-125 Cassette Deck
    
    Stax Lambda Pro Headphones
     (I do a lot of listening through phones, which is why I invested
      the money in these. Great sound....)
    
    All interconnects (except the turntable, which has an integral cord)
    are Monster Cable Interlink A's. The speakers are connected with
    Monster Cable "M" series cable. I have two sets of speakers in the
    room, both handcrafted, and uniquely designed with Electro-Voice
    drivers and crossovers. The mains are 2 way speakers; bi-radial
    horn tweeters, and 12" bass drivers. Solid oak tops, birch ply on
    front behind the grillcloths, rest of the cab is fabric wrapped.
    Cabs weigh 66 lbs apiece. Very efficient design -  Db/1W @ 1 Meter
    = 98. The dimensions (in inches) are 37Hx14Wx10D. The rear speakers
    are much smaller and wall mounted (the mains, by the way, stand
    on TipToes). The rears are 22Hx11Wx7D, efficency is 94, small dome
    tweeters, and 8" bass drivers, and are fabric wrapped. To my ears,
    this custom speaker setup sounds terrific; equal to $3500 speaker
    systems.
    
    I do have assorted radios, boomboxes, and Walkpersons lying about
    the house, as well as antique stereo gear in various stages of working
    order. Audio is a lifelong hobby for me, and I derive great
    satisfaction of getting my system ever closer to true reproduction
    of live sonic events.

    Ah yes, the ever present "what good toys do you have" note.
    
    I don't have a living room, just a corner of my parents basement...
    mainly BECAUSE of my stereo, they disagree with me on musical taste,
    volume levels, and listening times (nothing like a 105 wpc alarm
    clock to get you moving at 7 in the morning...:-)
    
    but what i got is this:
    
    Yamaha a-700 integrated amp slated for upgrade next spring/summer.
    
    Yamaha t-520 tuner, It will be around awhile, it works well enough.
    
    Sony cdp 302-II disk player, very nice unit, not top of the line,
    		bu more than sufficient for a few more years...
    
    Nakamichi BX-100, used for making tapes for the car and playing
    	 	my girlfreinds tapes (interesting comment, my girlfiend
    [sic] who is not into audio at all, complained that there were too
    many switches on the bx-100, imagine her reaction to the rx-700
    or better yet, the dragon?? :-)
    
    B&O rx turntable with an B&O mmc3 cart., this will be disappeaing
    soon as I do not use it anymore (total digital convert here...)
    
    B&W dm220 speakers, VERY VERY NICE, i am extremely pleased with
    these.  With out a doubt the best I heard for under 800$ and better
    than a lot under 3k$  (personal opinions only guys...If you want
    to flame me on this, go ahead, I use napalm...:-)
    
    near future - velodyne uld-12 subwoofer...
          
    (and assorted archaic weaponry for drubbing people over the head
    who disagree with me...Hi DAD! :-)
    
    grins,
    
    clark.
    

    I forgot ...  apart from the Technics/KEF system which I put in
    the WRU note (before I found this), I have a Clarion 950HX
    Radio/Cassette in the car, which I am well pleased with (the r/c,
    that is, well the car's OK too ...).
    
    Jeff.

    
    I coveted a decent Hi-fi system for several years, before being
    in a position to buy one, which finally occurred a year or so ago.
    Since then, I've managed to acquire all the bits I want, and feel
    that it will keep me going quite happily for a few years. The relevant
    bits are:

    CD -	Philips CD360. Couldn't tell the difference between
    		the CD players I heard, and I liked the remote control
    		and FTS features of this model. It also got good
    		reviews.
    
    Amp - 	Mission Cyrus I (last years model). I wanted a "minimalist"
    		amplifier, and this was the best of the designs in my
    		price range.
    
    Speakers -  B&W DM110i on Target stands. We listened to several
    		different speakers (Heybrook, Tannoy, Mission, Celestion), 
    		and these came out the best. I bought the stands later,
    		and they made a big difference - definitely worthwhile.

    T/table - 	Pioneer PL12D, bought cheap off a friend at University.
    	        I only recently found out that these things were regarded
    	        as a "classic" of the late '70s. It rumbles/hums a bit,
    		but I don't feel it's worth replacing, as I'm not 
    		buying any more black Vinyl !
    
    Later additions are:
    
                SONY TCFX150B. I picked this because it got some of good
                reviews, and was incredibly cheap (B&B new year sale, �80).
                I only use it for taping stuff for the car and walkman, and
                it is excellent at that. In general, pre-recorded tapes
                don't sound too good on it, but it makes very good
                recordings. 

    Mission Cyrus Tuner -
    		I bought this last week in Lasky's (I know), for two
    		reasons. Firstly, it is almost the only tuner that would
    		fit in the space left on the shelf, and secondly, it
    		was reduced by 60 quid. I am using this in conjuction
    		with a roof mounted FM aerial.

    Everything except that Tuner was bought at B&B in Reading, or Reading
    Hi-Fi. The whole lot sits on a Target rack (TT6 I think), and as I
    said, I'm currently very happy with it. I've managed to avoid Hi-Fi
    paranoia so far, and I'm not considering any upgrades in the near to
    medium future. 
    
    Trevor 

             
    
    I'm living in Valbonne France but have done and will still buy 
    Audio equipment in UK due to price and availability differences.
    
    	My system comes complete from Uk except for the CD player and
    the Nakamichi cassette deck.
    
    Pre-Amp,	Musical Fidelity 2a.
    
    Pwr-Amp,	QUAD 306.
    
    Cassette,	Nakamichi 582.

    CD,		Philips 782.	Recently uppgraded from Akai M-300.
    
    Turtable,	Pink Triangle MKII.
    	With	Alphason HR100s tonearm
	and	Linn's Troika Pickup.
    
    Speakers,	Monitor Audio RS652.
                With original stands.
    
    Cables,	Monster interlink special.
                Speaker cable is Naim NAC4.
                              
    	Earlier when i was living in Sweden i had a Complete Audio
    system in the car. But with all the risk down at the Cote d'azur,
    they are kept in a box for the moment. ( until i get frustrated
    enough of not having the usual sound in the car)

Right, here goes:
    
    Sources:      Philips CD104 CD player
    		  Rega Planar 3 /R37 Record Deck
    		  Aiwa ADF250 Cassette
    		  Philips and Akai Reel-Reel tapes
    		  Sony STJ-75 tuner (not many were made - they're great)
    
    Pre-Amp:	  NAD 1155 (lots of inputs, very low Z outputs)
    
    Power Amp:    Home built MOSfet job with 500W PSU, puts about 110
    		  to 150 Watts/Channel into-----
    
    Speakers:	  Mission 770s (NOT the 770 Freedom, the originals)
    
    Interconnect: pre=power amp - DNM ribbons with gold plated phonos
    
    		  speakers: RS 50 strand with Mitchell Gold plated 4mm
   			    plugs.
    
    Sound:	  Mind-blowing, gut punching Rock.                 
    		  Very realistic Choral and orchestral (has anyone tried
    		  Telarc Planets CD - no EQ, no compression - great)
   	                                         
    
    Anyone got a pair of TDL references I can borrow ( I'll pick em
    up on me bike :-) )
    
    Dave K

    This is what the Haxby household puts up with:
    
    Linn.  A very nice christmas pressie.
    
    Logic DM10 attached to a Cambridge P77 (or vice versa).
    
    Crimson Elektrik pre- and power-amp.  Power amp delivers 44w RMS
    at 1kHz for ever; 100-150 watts peak, some ridiculous ramp time.
    Sounds a bit like the old Quad 33/303 only cleaner.
    
    Heybrook HB1s bought when they were new stood on Heybrook stands.
    
    
    The Linn is new, everything else a few years old.  I stood the Linn
    on a wall shelf this weekend (instead of the record cupboard) and
    successfully persuaded myself that I don't need an instant upgrade.
    
    I'm not interested in CD, most CD players aren't up to the Linn
    (even before the wall shelf) and, like .2, I don't relish paying
    all that money for them.  I will in time, I suppose, though.
    Meanwhile, .2, I hate you (only joking!)
    
    								jch
    

 The story so far...


     GOODMANS MAXAMPS     -- small active (passive powered actually) speakers

     YAMAHA KX-300        -- Spanking new cassette deck


  Other biits are borrowed from my mates who I share a house with.


  Upgrade plan of attack:

   1. an amplifier  (short list of NAD 3130, ROTEL 820BX3)

   3. speakers      (  "    "   "  JBL TLX3, MISSION 700LE, CELESTION DL4,
                                   TANNOY MERCURY II)

   4. CD            ( suggestions please at 200-250 quid )



 The Yamaha sounds good so far and I will write a review soon.

Steve.

    And now for a well-designed, integrated, system (but then, what
    do you expect from a set of bits and pieces built/acquired over
    the last 15 years or so!)

    Turntable - Garrard 401 (yes, I know it's idler wheel drive and
    that they haven't been built for about 10 years...)
    
    Arm - SME Series 2 12" (whose main claim to fame, apart from the
    quality of the engineering, is for the only "audio" joke I know
    - when is an arm not an arm - when it's a foot!)
    
    Cartridge - used to be Ortofon MC20 via Ortofon transformers, but
    since it was damaged in a house move, I'm back to the spare - Shure
    M55, and thinking about a suitable replacement)
    
    CD - Denon 1500II - recent buy, and certainly persuaded me that
    all CD players do not sound the same (even convinced my wife, who
    thinks I'm crazy to listen to VHF FM when LW AM is available...)
    
    Cassette - Yamaha 320 - mainly used with a timer to record radio
    progs for later replay in the car.
    
    Amp - ARCAM Alpha+
    
    Speakers - home-built from an old Wireless World design by Peter
    Baxandall, based on ELAC 9x5 ellipticals with LC equaliser network
    built-in. Probably the next item to be replaced, and probably by
    home-built units based on the KEF designs.
    
    Headphones - less said about these the better (all right, then,
    I suppose you deserve a laugh for reading this far - they are a
    pair of WW2 tank crew 'phones, rewired for stereo - very comfortable,
    and great if you don't mind telephone-quality audio - usually used
    to check that I am recording the right radio prog when the television
    is in use by others!)
    
    

    Here's my list of kit - I expect somebody will throw brickbats at
    it but it seems pretty good to me.
    
    Rega Planar II with Linn K9
    A&R Arcam Alpha Amp
    Ditto Tuner
    Yamaha KX300 Cassette Deck
    Celestion DL4 Series 2 Speakers
    
    The electronics are mounted on a Target TT3 stand, the speakers
    on Target pillar stands.  Interconnects are as supplied except for
    the speakers which are connected with solid core mains cable (49p
    per metre and worth every penny!)
    
    Dave M.

    AIWA MX440 Amp, FX-440 Twin Cassette deck, TX-440 Tuner, DX770 Compact
    Disk, SX-440 Speakers.
    
    To be joined (tomorrow!) by a Panasonic D80 Hi-Fi Stereo VCR and Panasonic
    TX-C71 Stereo TV. 
        
    Andy

	Hi, I'm Steve Bright, working at The Crescent, Basingstoke

	Currently my system comprises:

	Dual CS505-1 gramophone with
	Nagaoka MP11 cartridge		(not brilliant, but the cartridge is
					 certainly a lot better than the
					 original Grado GT-super)
	Technics SUV5 amplifier		(sounds surprisingly good, but obviously
					 can't match audiophile gear)
	KEF Celeste IV speakers		(the ones with the black stockings;
					 these sound good and will be the last
					 of these three items to be upgraded)

	Well that's the important stuff (!), the rest of it is:

	Phillips CD150 CD player	(which makes a noise like a strangled
					 cat and jumps more than any record)
	Technics STS4-T tuner		(fed by roof aerial, not staggering,
					 but acceptable for the amount of time
					 I spend listening to the wireless)
	Technics RSM755X cassette deck	(with ***DBX***, gasp, wow. this is the
					 oldest item at 6� years, I had to
					 the main motor and drive belts earlier
					 this year)
	Phillips portable CD		(which is dead handy for playing tracks
					 towards the end of CD's which the CD150
					 can't seem to reach without trying to
					 self-destruct)
	Panasonic NV870 video		(with hi-fi sound, which is really good
					 except most video tapes from my local
					 rental are already knackered by the
					 time I get them)

	The speakers are sitting on Activity Play stands with no spikes in
	sight and are connected with QED 79-strand.

	The turntable is sitting on an upturned cardboard box - baked beans I
	think, but it could be tinned rice pudding.

	Most bits are about 6 years old now and showing their age somewhat. I
	got fed up with listening to records sometime ago - the CDs knock the
	socks off my Dual...

	However, I'm upgrading the primary components within the next three
	weeks, in fact the gramophone arrives on Saturday...

Here's what's lurking in my living room -

Sansui SR222 MkIII turntable		(Used to sound fine, but is starting
					to run a mite slow, I tried replacing
					the belt, but that didn't
					help - will replace
					eventually - Rega 2 maybe...)

NAD 3020 amp                            (What a great piece of kit - 8 years
					old and still to be bettered at
					twice the price)
                                        
Wharfedale Shelton XP speakers		(Sound a bit hissy with a cheap
					source, but very good otherwise.
					Need to be backs to the wall else
					they sound terrible.
					I lost the urge to upgrade these when
					I got a CD player. Will probably
					replace the rickety stands they're
					on tho'.)
                                         
    The above I've had for about 8 years (and have been completely
    reliable), the following are more recent additions. 
                      
Yamaha CDX7000 CD player		(Only 6 months old, but I am very
					pleased with it. Yamaha seem to take
					a lot of stick in the CD notesfile,
					but I have no complaints.)

Yamaha KX200 cassette deck		(Very good for a cheap deck. It
					actually sounds more "lively" than
					the CD player on some material,
					but less detailed)

    I decided on the Yamaha gear, because I read a couple of good reviews
    and I like the design and quality of construction. I also had the
    thought of taking advantage of their "Remote System" compatibility
    whereby with the addition of their extortionately priced AVC-320 amp I
    can connect everything together (including VCR and other sources) and
    control all the Yamaha bits from one remote control. Well, so goes the
    theory, I expect that if and when it comes to it I will go for an
    amplifier that puts sound quality before whizzy features, and just live
    with the proliferation of remote controls :-)              
    

    What's lurking in MY living room???
    
    Quite a lot, and not neccesarily lurking.

    Speakers :   CANTON Karat 200. I think they are quite well balanced,
                 anyway not tiring to listen to at any level. There were
                 better (?) speakers in that price class, according to
                 tests and reviews, but stuff that, MY ears are listening
                 them. 
    
    Driven by :  KENWOOD 6100 amp, rather vintage, but good, clean power
                 although the Canton's would welcome any larger amount 
                 available. They are a bit power-hungry. The amp survives
                 because of the large but barely sufficient amount of
                 inputs (2 x MM, Tuner, 2 x Aux, 2 x Tape). 
    
    CD         : DENON 1500. No special comments; would like to upgrade
                 to the 1520 though.
    
    Turntables : (yes, two, and used more than my CD player). 
                 Thorens TD 166 with TP64 arm and Ortofon X-3 MC (high
                 output) cartridge. I never thought records could sound
                 that good, although they probably can sound even better...
                 Lenco L75, old and much used, but no sign of wear(iness).
                 Has either a Goldring 500 or an Ortofon F15-2 cartridge,
                 depending on what's going to be played. Can spin records
                 at 78RPM, which is nice for old jazz....
    
    Tapedeck :   TANDBERG 3600XD reel-to-reel. Tweaked to the ultimate,
                 performs way better than most cassette thingies I've heard
                 so far. Drawback: the large motor and flywheel (whaddaya
                 mean, speed drift?) are quite noisy, but so am I when
                 playing music.
    
    Cassette stuff : Two JVC's, a KD-A11 and a KD-A33. Just a bargain.
                 Perform good enough not to throw them out, but nothing
                 super either. Needed for cassette copies for my car,
                 walkman and the occasional friend who doesn't know
                 how to play a reel of tape any other way than having
                 it in a cassette shell.
    
    Tuner :      About as bad as the general radiowave shit over here,
                 a Dual CT16. News and weatherforecast, plus the occasional
                 aired live concert.
    
    
    
    Then in my sleeping quarters: a Sansui AU-555 amp, Dual CT15 tuner,
    and a pair of DIY speakers. Story behind the speakers....
    many years ago built by AR as a set of 4X's, got new tweeters after
    a very loud, and shortly after not-so-very-loud-in-the-3kHz-and-up
    party, then as years passed got new front panels, crossover bits,
    and finally new woofers and a whole new cabinet. Me think the damping
    wadding is still original Acoustic Research......
    This setup can be fed from downstairs via a small line-amp with
    whatever I'm playing there at that moment. Tuner is used for wake-up,
    so I don't need to power up the downstairs set as well.
    
    Finally, over my workbench there is a set of El-Cheapo Jamo Compact70's
    (won in a lottery *&(^^%^&$W$#), connected to a Sony TA1630, for
    listening (well.....) to a device under test. Can also be switched
    to music from the main set.
    
    Well, that's it, leave a Sony WM-F31 walkman.

        						- Rik -

This is an update of .12, as I have almost finished upgrading my system.



    Components            Waffle                                          Cost
    ~~~~~~~~~~            ~~~~~~                                          ~~~~
   CD Player         -  Technics SL-P350                                 (#250)
                        Bought in Wires after considering a Marantz CD65
                        but the new (CD65IISE) version looks like an Amstrad
                        reject. Loads of functions and buttons but it sounds
                        quite reasonable (I've only had it a few days so I'm
                        still breaking in the sound).

   Cassette Deck     -  Yamaha KX-300                                    (#150)
                        Makes nice recordings but the Dolby B playback can
                        kill some tapes recorded on other machines.

   Amplifier         -  Acoustic Research A-04                           (#170)
                        A fast & detailed little bleeder and lots of welly
                        to boot! I payed only #120 for it in a Wires promotion
                        but the price has now gone back up to #170.

   Speakers          -  Celestion DL6 MkII                               (#150)
                        Absolute gems, a nice tidy bass & midrange unit
                        combined with a titanium dome tweeter that you just
                        fall in love with. They've tamed the amp quite nicely
                        too.

   Stands            -  Celestion LS 24" stands (for the DL series)      (#55)
                        Heavy monopod stands especially designed for use
                        with the DL speakers. I haven't filled them yet but
                        they still improve the sound by giving the mid a bit
                        more 'bite'.




 In the future:

    Interconnects    -  Possibly QED Icon P1 gold to replace the cheap wires
                        that came with the cassette deck & CD player.

    Speaker Cable    -  An upgrade from the 79 stand (not QED) cable
                        that I have is required soon. At the moment I'm
                        thinking of QED F200 or Arcam Live Brown Wire. 



  Steve.

    Indoors:
    
    Dual 505 turntable
    Denon PMV300 amp
    Rotel RT850 tuner
    Philips CD450 cd
    JVC TX103 cassette
    Quart PMB85 headphones
    Tannoy Mercury speakers
    Philips Matchline TV
    Ferguson nicam stereo video
    Wurlitzer 1015 jukebox
    
    Outdoors:
    
    Sony D100 cd
    Sony SRS50 speakers
    Sony DC2 walkman               
    
    Mike O'

    
    In my small (very) room I have managed to collect the following:
    
    	TECHNICS SL1200 Turntable (off the back of a lorry ie.�75)
    
    	HARMEN/KARDON MANHATTAN System comprising of CD, Tuner, Amp,
    and cassete deck.
    
    	JBL loudspkrs.
    
    Managed to get most of this cheaper than retail due to the fact
    I used to work in a Hi_Fi shop. I still have contacts within the
    shop, so need say no more...                                  
    
    			Mac
    

    .. Very humble I'm afraid...
     
       NAD 3020 amp
     
       PHILIPS CD160
     
       GOODMANS Magnum K2 speakers (circa 1973 - before they 'blew it'!)
     
       TARGET HJ15 stands - spiked/sand filled
     
       Solid core speaker cables (30amp mains cable !)
     
       QED incon directional phonon leads.
     
     
    
    Phil Gardner

    
    
    Linn Sondek LP12 Turntable
    Linn Basik Plus Tonearm
    Linn K9 Cartridge
    
    Creek CAS4040 Amplifier
    
    Mission 70 Speakers
    
    Sansui D55M Tape Deck
    
    Naim cable
              

I've finally finished upgrading my HiFi which has now left me with
a rather large overdraft. Except for the Dual turntable which I've
sold, I've still got all the bits I listed in 19.16. I now have in
addition:

	Linn LP12  Sondek record deck
	Linn Ekos  tonearm
	Linn K18   cartridge

	Linn LK1   preamplifer
	Linn LK280 power amplifer

	Linn Isobarik DMS speakers on dedicated stands

All linked with Linn speaker cable and Linn interconnects.

I  originally  bought  a  pair of Linn Helix speakers, but a great
deal came up with a pair of ex-dem Isobariks so I had to jump. The
Isobariks sound so much better, especially now they're in phase!

I'm not planning to upgrade until my stylus wears out (probably by
the summer at the rate I'm using it all!), but if  it  lasts  less
than twenty years the upgrade will be restricted to a new stylus!

Steve

    In a room 12' X 12' I have the following:
    
    Rega Planar 3
    Linn K9 cartridge
    Creek 4040 Amp
    Creek 3140 Tuner
    Denon DR171 Cassette deck
    Celestion DL4 speakers
    
    Deck is mounted on a Target wall shelf
    Speakers are on Target speaker stands
    Amp, tuner and cassette desk are on a Target table.
    
    System sounds pretty good on the whole considering total cost was
    under �1000.
    
    When funds allow I'll be looking to upgrade..... to a Linn if my
    wife lets me (unfortunately she knows how much these cost now. I
    did manage to convince her the K9 cartridge was 'about a tenner'
    for a while. I walked with a limp for a week when she found
    the receipt!!!).
    
     Dave.
    

    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I have
    
    Sansui AU-G11X amp
    Sansui P-D30 DD Turntable
    JVC SEA-11 7 band Graphic Equalizer
    JVC KD-V100 Cassett Deck
    JVC KV 220 Compact Disk Player
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    
    and a new addition
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
        
    would like
    
    a NAKAMICHI Cassette Deck

    Grant
    

    My Hi-Fi resides in the main room of my Lower Earley studio-box.
    (the box is for sale at �57k if you want to put me out of my misery)
    
    System comprises :-
    
    Turntable : Royce Elega  -remember this? (c.'82/3)
    
    CD : Marantz CD65II
    
    Tape : Nakamichi BX1
    
    Amp : CREEK CAS4040
    
    Speakers : AR18LS
    
    Stands : Reference
    
    
    The only upgrade I can see in the near future will be the speakers,
    which I hope to replace with something like Celestion DL8s.
    
    Would like a Linn Axis. 
    

    re-1
    
    How much are you going to sell your AR18Ls's for?
    
    I have a pair of AR8Ls's and a pair of 18Ls's would go nicely with
    the 8's
    
    Grant

    My Rega has gone to a new home and has been replaced by a Linn Axis.
    Everything else is the same including the cartridge, although the
    speaker cables have been replaced by Mission Cyrus cable.
    
    Onward and upward!
    
    Dave M.

    
    ...in fact, the home that Dave's Rega went to is mine. So much for
    saying earlier in this discussion that I wasn't going to buy another
    turntable !
    
    Trevor

    
    
    	Ok chaps here it is:-
    
    	record deck SP25 ughhh now lets be serious
    
    	Thorens TD25 MKII Belt Drive deck
    	SME 3009 Series II Improved fixed head shell arm
    
    		Both purchased in 1973 !!!11
    
    	Ortofon VMS 30 Mk II needle
        NAD 3150 amp
    	NAD 4150 am/fm tuner
    	NAD 6050C cassette
    	Marantz CD65MKIISE upgarded from a 473 & 104
    	AKAI 4000DS reel-reel
    	Beyer Dynamic ET1000 Electrostatic headphones
    	Monitor Audio R152 on M.A. stands
    	8940 stereo Video
    
    	plenty of wire and stuff
    	
    	I am thinking of upgrading the speakers when I first bought
    the gear I had a home test on the MA r152 and r352 i think they
    where, but hopefully next week will be home testing some BOSE AM-5's
    
    	The room is a 16'x14' size I had worked out the resonanant
    frequencies but with Chinchillas and budgies etc what the hell.
    The H/phones are used for some serious mind blowing ( 7 mth baby
    not quite into my taste of music yet ).
    
    wayne
    
    	

    In our living room I have installed the folowing enhancements:-
    
    Mission Cyrus II Amplifier...   Really mindblowingly loud and has
                                    a CD input.
    
    Quad FM4 Tuner...               Great.  Occasionally micro goes
                                    apesh*t and needs a powerdownup
                                    reboot.
    
    Aiwa 770 Cassette...            Wonderful.  Does about everything.
    
    Philips 473 CD player...        See above.
    
    Thorens TD160 with SME3 arm 
    and Ortofon 30 Cartridge...
                                    Turntable is 12 years old but still
                                    works really well.  I just boil up
                                    the drive belt occasionally!  Have
                                    to take the platter off to change
                                    to 45RPM but what the *&@!
    
    
    Mission 700S Speakers...        Adequate performance but I think I
                                    would like something a little bigger.
    
    Sennheiser ???? Headphones...   Excellent.  Don't want anything else.  
    
    Loewe HiFi VCR...               Really good!  Got loads of HiFi music
                                    videos and they sound great.  Also use
                                    it to tape lots of music on to a video
                                    tape for parties etc.  Nearly as
                                    good as a CD.
    
    
    In my "lab":-                   
    
    Wharfedale Diamond speakers...  Absolutely incredible, despite their size!
    
    Pye cassette deck...            Built like a Landrover, solid and
                                    reliable.  Reasonable sound.
    
    Creek 1040(??) Amplifier...     Apart from the thump at turn off and the 
                                    large heatsink at the back, very good.
    
    
    I tend to listen more to CDs than to anything else and have quite
    a largish collection, the Mission Cyrus II amplifier is very good
    with CDs and I like the sound.
    
    Nick.  (always an audio freak).
    

    
    In the intro note I said that I was in possesion of a new JVC
    set up which was true at the time but is no longer.
    
    I sent it back as I was not happy with it. In my opinion JVC has
    gone downhill over the past 2 or 3 years.
    
    What I have now is the new Technics X5 and so far am chuffed to
    bits with it. I really don't know much about it as it was only
    delivered yesterday afternoon so I haven't had much time to drive
    it around yet.
    
    One of the good things about the amp is that it has facilities for
    more or less anything you want to add to it including a DAT deck.
    
    Also the signal from the CD is transmitted using optical fibres
    instead of electrical pulses. Can someone explain to me what this
    means exactly.???
    
    I have to take the CD back though as they have deleivered the wrong
    one (from the X1).
    
    I had a nightmare connecting it all up as there were the normal
    line in and out leads, but there were also the remote control leads
    and other leads which look like boot straps. The trouble is that
    while I know what some of the leads do the books do not say what
    the others do. Well as long as it works.

    Does anyone else have Technics stuff and knows alot about them.??
    
    Jeff
    

    I took a looong look at the current Technics stuff a few weeks back as
    my Aiwa kit has died after 2 years with repair costs estimated at
    �400+, so I'm never going THERE again.
    
    Anyhow, the current crop of Technics stuff seems overpriced, especially
    their CD players. At the moment I'm using my Sony D-25 Discman
    connected to my usual amp. The D-25 cost �170 (in the US admittedly -
    the UK equivalent is the D250 at �250-ish) but to get the same features
    ion a technics cd player (4 times oversampling, progammable on index
    points as well as tracks, random shuffle , program and repeat) would
    have set me back over �350. Sorry guys, it just ain't that good.
    
    Sorry to say this, but the current crop of SONY kit seems to show that
    they have realised that they can't trade on their name forever and
    produced several sets of kit that would cost from �500-2000 for a
    complete set thet'd pee all over Technics.
    
    Having said that, Sony speakers are absolute crap. B&L seem okay, but
    I'm still checking them out.
    
    - Andy ��� Leslie
    

    
    I am by no means very ofay with audio gear so in technical terms
    I really don't know much. I suppose it boils down to what you
    want from a hi fi system.
    
    Andy, the Sony gear you mentioned peeing all over Technics is
    just the price right ??
    
    My Technics CD player on its own is 200 quid and has all the basic
    funtions plus some nice touches. Synchro recording and tape editing.
    
    If you use the tape edit function the CD once it knows the tape
    length will choose for you the best way of recording the the CD
    onto tape. By this I mean if you are using a C90 tape and the music
    from the disk is 55 minutes long (for example) the CD will pause
    at the end of the tape and record on the other side which eliminates
    the hassle of manual intervention.
    
    It does other bits and bobs which I haven't had time to suss out
    yet.
    
    Andy, is it the price of Technics gear that is off putting ???
    
    
    Jeff.

    For the same features and quality, Sony is cheaper.

                         
    Started some 10 years ago with a Trio KD1033 turntable and Ortofon
    VMS20E cartridge, Armstrong 625 tuner-amp and JR 149 loudspeakers. 
                                                                      
    The Trio is about worn out and the amplifier is getting pretty noisy.
    Still love the JR's.                                             
                                                                      
    Have recently acquired a second hand pair of Gale 401 loudspeakers (the
    ones with the chrome ends) and a Linn LP12 turntable with LVX-Plus arm
    and K9 cartridge. Most of the mods have been carried out to bring
    the Linn up to date, although it's only 3 years old.
                         
    Looking for good amp to stick in the middle (see "wanted" ad 10.10).
                                                                
    Now that I'm getting close to a decent setup would like to hear
    what quality records others recommend. Anybody care to start a notesfile
    called "Quality LPs"?
                                                                       
                     
    Gary                         

    The Ittok is now an Ekos, and the Asaka is now a Troika. Also the
    Technics tuner has been replaced with a NAD4225, and the Pioneer tape
    deck with a Denon DRM70.
    
    The Denon is a gem, prerecorded tapes sounding very acceptable and
    putting off further the time when I'll have to buy a CD machine for
    non-vinyl music. Having recently changed roles to one with no standby
    or callout, maybe it's just as well.....
    
    Dave

    UP DATE ON 19.32
    
    	i now have the bose am-5's 

    	excellent stuff
    
        

    update to .27
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
    
    Sansui AU-G11X amp
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    JVC SEA-11 7 band Graphic Equalizer
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    JVC KV 220 Compact Disk Player
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    
    and after christmas I want to replace my JVC CD player with a Marantz
    CD50SE.
    
    Grant
        
    would like
    
    a NAKAMICHI Cassette Deck

    Grant
    

    I entered a previous version of this note yesterday, but changed the
    amp today and thought I'd give more details.
    
    A somewhat bent up credit card later, I've now got
    
    Technics ST-600L Tuner (Basic but all I need)
    
    Sony TA-F410R Amp. 70w/channel, with direct input for the CD. Remote
    control which also operates..
    
    Sony TC-RX55 Cassette Deck (Single Deck with Dolby B+C + HX Pro...)
    
    Sony CDP970  CD Player - brilliant stuff 45 bit digital filtering, 18x
    oversampling with Custom File, Tape Editing facilities, 20 track
    program, a<->b, shuffle, and bells and whistles too.
    
    B+W DS2 speakers. I've wall mounted them for child safety...I'd kill
    anyone who screwed 'em up.
    
    Still have the NVD80 HiFi video, also tied in for tape<->tape editing.
    
    I bought all this at Comet/Laskys in Bracknell with 5 year guarantees
    for under �1000.
    
    As a throw-in, I got 25 metres of ?79? strand speaker cable which is
    bloody heavy stuff. They were going to give me 40-strand but didn't
    have enough.
    
    Hmmm, must have a party...

    
    	In my room at the moment I have the following equipment.
    
    
    	Dennon PMA320 amplifier
    	 "  "  DRW750 twin cassette deck
    	Mission 762   Speakers
    	 "  "           "  "   stands
    	Phillips 582  CD player
        Mitsubishi B21 VCR (mono,Hooked up through the amp)
    
        At the moment I am waiting to receive my Denon tuner,and I am
        seriously considering upgrading my CD player(Any suggestions)
                                                                     

    Yes, see my notes since yesterday :-)

    update to .41
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
    
    Sansui AU-G11X amp
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    JVC SEA-11 7 band Graphic Equalizer
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE    
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    
    Grant
        
    would like
    
    a NAKAMICHI Cassette Deck

    Grant
    

    I just went out and got a JVC Midi-W31CD cos I can't afford lots
    of dosh on my mortgage. It plays records and cassettes and radio,
    and that's what I want.
    
    I now need some adequate headphones so I can have music whilst The
    Boss is watching Neighbours, and I have to get the Free Surround
    Sound speakers from JVC.
    
    After that I will spend my time framing my overdraft...
    
    Steve

    An addendum to .18:
    
    
    The power is now delivered by a Rotel 870BX, the Kenwood is
    still used for it's preamp part. Auditioned the Rotel against a
    NAD 32mumble (already forgot) (both as the integrated amp variety)
    and the Rotel had a slight leading edge. Also beefing up a lighter
    power supply with some electronic tricks (NAD's Power Envelope)
    is IMHO no real replacement for a good, hefty conventional supply,
    especially if there are two of them; those things appeal to my
    technical senses, and my ears supported that! As both the NAD and 
    the Rotel didn't have enough inputs I ended up getting the power amp 
    only and hooking it up instead of the Old K's attempt at power 
    amplification (now futile by comparison). 
    To get the Kenwood out eventually I am experimenting with various
    bits&pieces to compose The Ultimate Preamp (a.k.a. switchbox with
    level control) and, while at it, stuffed the Kenwood's phono preamp
    with a couple of low-noise transistors and other assorted electronic
    goodies. A few hours well spent! 
    
    Upstairs the ex-AR speakers have moved to the working room. Next
    to my bed are now two KEF Corelli's. At least for the time being:
    my sister's fianc� also has a pair of them and would like to add
    two speakers to his (their) setup (largish living room), so I offered
    them mine. When I'm done hunting for someting to replace them they'll
    move. 
    
    Further enhancements: cabling, a separate headphone amp (homebrew)
    and spikes for the main system speakers. The headphone amp can make
    the conuses meet halfway between your ears without even feeling
    the need for a little distortion, so... 
    Also the WalkThingie has miraculously cloned off a WM-B504. I found
    the original one again beneath a pile of various electronics in my 
    workroom. Guess that's where they hibernate/breed/whatever.
      
                                                     - Rik -

	This is my stuff, all very recently aquired and most of only
	on the market for a few months.

	Technics SLP-277A CD player. Latest Bitstream 'MASH' data handling.
				     Looks and performs as if it cost twice
				     as much as it did. Base level model but
				     many features.

	Technics SAR-100L Tuner/Amp  Same family as above. 40W amp. Forced
				     it's choice because it interfaces so
				     well with the rest. Has specific VCR
				     input and remote control that operates
				     the CD too.

	Panasonic NVF-65B Nicam VCR  Used as audio recorder as well as to
				     receive TV sound.

	Wharfedale Diamond 3 spkers  Compact, impressive clarity and also
				     cheap since the arrival of version 4
				     means bargains on the old one.

	Plan to refinish the Diamonds since I don't like black, but 
	otherwise that's it for probably a long time. I notice from the
	Technics catalogue that you can get a Remote which will operate 
	the basic functions of all the above items, just might get one
	of those (Technice and Panasonic are both National brand names)

	-John

    update to .45
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
    
    Sansui AU-G11X amp
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    JVC SEA-11 7 band Graphic Equalizer
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE    
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    
    And a new addition a 1 week old Panasonic NVF-65B Hi-Fi VCR

    Grant
    

re
>        Panasonic NVF-65B Nicam VCR  Used as audio recorder as well as to
>                                     receive TV sound.
>

John,

Whats it like? I'm thinking of buying this model. Did you shop around? If 
where did you buy. 

Regards

Dave.

	See topics 37 and 124 for opinions on Nicam VCR.

	Incidentally my tuner/amp is a SAGX-100L not what I said earlier.

	-John

Comprising;
            T/TABLE:
                     REGA PLANA 3, Bought as an ex demo model a couple
                                   of years back and still going strong,
                                   Great dynamics and 'real' sounds

            CARTRIDGE:
              AUDIO TECHNICA 110E, Clear sounding & great value.

            AMPLIFIER:
                     ROTEL 820BX2, Purchased 4 years ago, it still delivers
                                   the powerful and dynamic sound which
                                   it was bought for.

            SPEAKERS:
            WHARFEDALE DELTA 30'S, Cool neutral sound, amazingly cheap
                                   speakers that sound really rather good.

            TAPE DECK:
                      DENON MR-07, Stable budget deck, Clear sound when used
                                   with type 2 tapes (cr-oxide).

                
            CABLE:  QED 79

Overall sound is clear and articulate, the REGA & the ROTEL inparticular 
certainly sound pretty damn good.

Possible upgardes: Tannoy DC1000, Castle Durham, JBL tlx14, Wharfdale 505.2
                   Target speaker stands & equipment stands
                   Linn K5/9   or REGA Bias/Elys

    Ok I've gone for It,
    
    
    Turntable :  Linn LP12/EKOS/Trokia
    
    Amp       :  Naim 72/250/HICAP
    
    Spks      :  Linn Isobarik
    
    Cassette  :  Nakamichi CR7
    
    CD        :  Arcam Delta 170/Black Box 
    
    
    Now to start the Vinal Backlash :-)
    
    
    Rob.
    

I been reading this conference for some time and thought I'd better enter 
something about my own setup. I am looking for hints and tips as how best to
procede with a upgrade.

Frontends: Rega3 RB300 arm AR P66 Cartridge
	   Phillips 373 CD
Amp: 	   ARCAM Alpha
Tuner:     Denon (Forgot Model #) Cost �85 in a sale
Cassette:  Technics RS615 - Old but very reliable. Used for producing tapes for 
	   car
Speakers:  KEF Coda III's
Cable: 	   Multistrand (79?) copper wire- Not sure of make.

Taste in Music: Anything from Pachabel to Chris De Burgh..Pink Floyd to
		Beethoven.. Lynard Skynard to Bonnie Tyler...et al

Dave Barron

    This is an update of .12 &.19
    
    
    
    Technics SL-P350 CD player
        Probably a bit dated now (it's 2 years old) but it still sounds
        reasonable to me. It's probably the next upgrade but I think
        I'll wait till the MASH/bit stream war settles down.
    
    Yamaha KX-300 cassette deck
        Mainly used for creating tapes from my personal stereo.
    
    Musical Fidelity A1 amplifier
        Lovely sounding class A amp. Probably outclasses the rest of the
        system but it's a good upgrade base.
    
    Celestion DL6 MkII speakers
        Nice sounding mid-range speakers. Will probable survive another
        front end upgrade.

    
    Other bits:
        Celestion LS 24" speaker stands
        QED Incon P1 Gold interconnect for CD player
        QED Incon graphite interconnect for cassette deck
        Monster Cable SuperFlex speaker cable
    
    
    
    
    Stephen.

Hi,
	I've been upsetting people in this conference for long enough so I
thought it was time to let you know what I've got ... or had.

	LP-12 / Ittok / Karma - just sold
		Thanks Dave, let me know how it sounds

begin replaced by

	LP-12 / Lingo / Ekos / Troika
		I was going for a K18 but what the hell

talking to

	LK-1 / LK-2
		The old 60 watts RMS variant

	Isobariks - Don't let anyone fool you, these can produce stereo you
		know, and a smidge of bass.

also

	An Aurex (note spelling) tuner and a Denon Cassette Deck both of which
are surprisingly good (and cost less that �50 each).

My next upgrade is to go active with the 'bariks as LK-2's are cheap 2nd hand
these days - only problem (except for funds) is that I'll have to tear them
(the speakers) to bits to get at the xover - not a job for the weak of heart.

So all in all a pretty predictable system (and yes no CD)

PS How about a note on the ``best'' (or worst) Hi-Fi you've ever heard.

Mine was a ``Blue Nile'' master tape up at Linn products

>My next upgrade is to go active with the 'bariks as LK-2's are cheap 2nd hand
>these days - only problem (except for funds) is that I'll have to tear them
>(the speakers) to bits to get at the xover - not a job for the weak of heart.

	why do you have to take the speakers apart? my crossovers are
	in the stands..what else do you need to get at?

	jack 

    The crossovers were only move outside the 'bariks within the last year
    (or there abouts). Before then they were in a small metal box behind
    the 2nd bass unit - you just unscrewed the box and removed the
    crossover. Mine on the other hand is inside the wooden cabiet so I'll
    have to take the whole shooting match to bits - this is not easy I've
    done it to Kans and Saras (what ever happend to those) and that takes
    long enough.
    
    My Isobariks date back to the days when the PMS* 'briks cost more that
    the DMS variant even though there was less in them.
    
    	PMS = Profesional Monitoring System (Active) �1800.00
    	DMS = Domestic Monitoring System (Passive) �1300.00
    
    These days the PMS is still about �1800.00 but the DMS cost about
    �2200.00 as you have to buy the crossover boards.
    
    I may chicken out and have mine converted by Linn but this will cost
    many ���s
    
    	Rik
    
    Out of interest what serial numbers are your 'bricks (approx.) I'd like
    to know how many Linn have made these days.

	thanks - all interesting stuff

>    Out of interest what serial numbers are your 'bricks (approx.) I'd like
>    to know how many Linn have made these days.

	not a clue. will have a look

	jack 

    Upgrade to .53
    	
    	Just Added a Lingo to the  LP12  Wow, what a diffrence! 
    
    	Now for the Naim 52 :-)
    

 Looks like as good a place as any to start my first note in this conference, so
here goes with my somewhat modest system. 

 
  Source  	JVC XLV400 CD player - Bought cheaply as an end of line item
			about 3years ago, but still sounds good enough for now.

  Amp		Cambridge P40 

  Speakers	Well, just a bodge job at the moment, sound terrible, but allow
		me to watch telly. Looking for something decent, or maybe build
		some. Anyone selling anything for 2-300 pounds ???? Recently
		auditioned some B&Ws (cant remember model, but cost ~200) and
		was reasonably impressed compared to the rest in the price.

  Video		Ferguson - recently donated by my Uncle, and happily replaces
   /TV tuner	an ailing telly !! Connected to P40 as the speaker in the 
		monitor is worse than any speaker I have heard elsewhere (even
		in an old tranny)



		 Alan
		~~~~~~

 Forgot to add that I also have a Garrad sp25 turntable as well, but I dont use
it as when it gets close to the end (around 4 mins at 33) the arm seems to get 
stuck, and refuses to go any further. I will ask a further question about this 
in a more appropriate topic.

		 Alan	
		~~~~~~

	re .58

>    Out of interest what serial numbers are your 'bricks (approx.) I'd like
>    to know how many Linn have made these days.


	speakers are 7889/0

	fwiw, the LK1 is 109117

	so how many have they made?

	jack 

    Well my 'bricks are in the high 1900s can't remember exactly and are
    about 5 years old (say 1985). Think 'bricks are over 10 years old (any
    one know ?).
    
    So baised on that 1000 pairs in the first 5 years (or so) and
    3000 in the last (As the numbers started from 0001/2).
    
    As for LK1/2 I think mine are in the low 100's (1001xx for LK1).
                                                                  
    		Rik.
    
    If your looking for low / old serial numbers my dad has Quad 1 no. 19.
    and its matched Quad I power amp - but he could afford the corner
    ribbon speaker ! They both still work and don't sound too bad.

	I have the following Equipment 

	Sansui SR222 Mk II Turntable
	Ortofon Concorde cartridge
	Technics - CD Player
	Akai AM 222 Amplifier
	Warfdale Denton Speakers

	Cables are P1-Icon and MIssion Hardcore speaker cable.

	Have a Cyrus I as an Xmas present but not allowed to use it yet.

	Iain.

	PS.  Looking for some new speakers, anyone got any for sale ?
	     If so, mail Me.

This stuff is in the living room, trouble is I'm not there during the week...

Linn LP12/Ekos/AT-OC9/Lingo - Turntable
Naim 72/HICAP/140 - Amp
Mission 764's - Speakers
Linn LK-20 - Speaker cable
Naim SNAIC Interconnects
Sony TS-730-ES - Tape Deck
Rotel RT-850 - Tuner

Sold the CD player. Probably replace it with a good transport/Outboard DAC
sometime. But no great rush....

Ultimate destination is an active system, probably start off with 2x NAP140,
maybe 'bariks...

    Upgrade from .53 & .60               
    
    Traded the Naim 72 for the 52 at the weekend.
    
    The 52 floors the 72 in EVERY respect, I decided this after listening
    to it for about 2 minutes. CD's sound great too! 
    
    For what it does its cheap honest!
    
    Rob.
    
    Who is very happy :-) :-)   but poor :-(

How much was the net you paid - to the nearest 100 pounds ;-)

	In my living room ...

	LP12 / Ittok / Karma
	 (A truely amazing sound - thanks Rik)

	Phillips CD160 

	An old Trio (now Kenwood) analogue tuner 

	JVC cassette deck 

	All that feeds into :

	Marantz PM45 amplifier

	Warfedale 505.2

	The Linn sits on an Origin Live Skyline table (a tripod), and the
	electronics on Habitat metal shelves. The speakers are on Appollo
	stands (need to be changed) with QED interconnects
	
	Dave.

    This is a description of my present audio system


    Turntable:	Linn Basik w/ Linn Akito arm & Linn K18 pickup

    Tuner:	Yamaha T-09

    Cassette:	Pioneer CT-850
    
    R-to-R:	Revox A77 4-track, portable model w/ speakers

    Amp:	Mission Cyrus I

    Speakers:	Acoustic Research AR-6

    Interconnects:
		As supplied between components,
		Esoteric Audio "speed cable" as speaker cable


    The lack of line-outputs on the Cyrus is a pitty, but it's
    otherwise something I'm very satisfied with so I'll keep changing
    cables...
    Tuner is cheap, but fits my requirements...
    Cassette deck isn't anything special but mostly OK, might be
    upgraded in the far away future...
    
    Main current upgrade plans include:

    *	Speaker stands, they are on small wooden things now and would
	probably sound better on stiffer stands with spikes in both
	floor and speaker

    *	Change of interconnect cables, cassette-amp, tuner-amp,
	'r-to-r'-amp

    Future upgrade plans include:

    *	Speaker upgrade, current speakers are '76 or something and I
	think sound could be improved with a new set of speakers.  I
	have been thinking of some electrostatic stuff like Magnepan
	or QUAD but these are not exactly inexpensive in Sweden...
	Also from what I gather they would require more power than
	what the Cyrus would be able to feed them with...
	And it seems they are very sensitive as to where you are in
	the room when listeming to them...

    *	A CD, preferably one with good transport which could be
	upgraded with an outboard D/A unit...
	Maybe some used multibit Philips high-end thing with digital
	outputs for a decent price...


	/Hans_Wallin
	

    My current system consists of:
    
    CD         Pioneer PD71
    	       Quad 66
    
    Turntable  Linn Axis, Akito Arm, K9
    
    Amplifyer  Quad 34
    	       Quad 606
    
    Tuner      Quad FM 4
    
    Tape       Nakamichi BX125
    
    Spearkers  Castle Conway II
    
    The speakers are by far the oldest part of the system, however, that
    they are better than many of the modern alternatives. The Quad 606
    poweramp and CD 66 are two recent additions and I intend to complete
    the up-date to 66 preamp and tuner during this year. 
    
    I am overall very satisfied with the Quads and believe that their claim
    - the closets approach to the original sound - is fully justified.  I
    have decided on staying with Quad after listening to Exposure, Arcam
    and other amplifiers and believe that contrary to many reviewers Quad is 
    a more than adequate match for amplifiers in the same price group or higher.
    
    The Quad CD 66 is a recent purchase and substantially based on
    Phillips.  I shall test against the Pioneer once it has it has had a
    chance to fully settle in, but intend to continue to use both of them. 
    
    A second set up consists of a Marantz CD75, Pioneer SX980 Receiver and
    BW100i speakers with using a Quad 405 - II as an alternative power
    amplifyer.  I hope to sell some of this equiment. 
    
    Tom
    

    My current setup is as follows:
    
    Trio (Kenwood) turntable Model unknown but about 10 year old
    Shure M75ED cartridge
    Denon PMA 350 Amp
    Denon DRM 22 cassette deck
    Denon DCD 610 CD
    Audiotronic LT1700 Tuner (Laskys branded made by Trio)
                              - even older than the turntable)
    KEF Cara (C40) speakers on stands
    
    There is also a rented Ferguson 'Hi-Fi' video linked into the amp
    
    The tuner is next for replacement subject to budgetary and marital
    constraints - current front runner is the Denon TU660 surprise,
    surprise. The system suits me because it's reliable and sounds good
    to me.
    
    Jeff K. 
     

    
    My new list of toys reads like this now...
    
    Technics	SL-P222A 	CD Player
    Technics	ST-X990L	Tuner
    
    Mission    	Cyrus I		Amplifier
    Celestion 	DL 4 Mk II	Speakers
    
    Target Speaker Stands
    QED P1-Incon Gold Interconnects
    Mission Solid Core Speaker Cables
    
    
    Got the tuner yesterday and am amazed at the difference between it and
    the Fisher (!) one I was using before.  Nice thing is it has a timer
    controled mains output for a Tape deck.  Solves my problem of taping
    radio shows when I'm out.
    
    Now if only I had a casstte deck !  Guess whats next on my list :-)
    
    Iain.
    
    

    After a few changes, and still more to go, my system looks like this:
    
    Front end still the Thorens TD160 w. Ortofon X3, and the Lenco L75 w.
    Ortofon F15-S. Not much changed here, except the connections are now
    Nagaoka cables and Monitor PC connectors
    
    The Kenwood amp has been made redundant. Power comes from a Rotel
    870BX, the preamp is home-brew. A quickie, the serious one is on the
    drawing board. Still, it's not bad at all for something built in just a
    weekend I guess. Good separation, tight bass, clean highs and low
    noise. I haven't speced it, but it sounds a nice match for the rest of
    the system. 6 inputs, separate recording selector, a fixed and a
    variable output. In all just a box with 2 switches, volume and balance
    controls, two buffer amps per channel and a phono preamp.
    
    Cassette decks have been replaced by a Tandberg 3004 and a Tandberg 340
    Mk2., both second-hand. The 3004 has a manual calibration facility to
    set bias and recording levels for different tapes; there's a third
    meter for reading optimum settings during the process. Both still need
    a little tweaking, and the 340 is too sensitive on it's line inputs. 
    
    The future preamp's power supply box is already in use, and contains a
    Class-A headphone amp and a line driver for the upstairs amps.
    
    Cabling has been upgraded too, Monitor PC interconnects and Oehlbach
    speaker cable. 
    
    And finally in a sale I got hold of a decently priced Mitsubishi (Akai)
    tuner, which is closer to the rest of the gear than the Dual was.
    
    The other gear is still the same. Canton Karat 200 speakers, now on
    spikes; Tandberg 3600 reel-reel tapedeck and the Denon 1500 CD.
    
    Upstairs over my workbench there is now a pair of Wharfedale Denton
    2XP's, powered by a Sansui AU-101 amp of about the same vintage. Don't
    need much there, just monitoring if I'm recording something, and to
    hook up repaired gear to see if it works.
    
    Future plans are centered around the speakers, but there's no
    indication to the When and What. There are a few other things I need to
    put money in too, unfortunately ...
    
                                                      - Rik -

    
    My setup has migrated from that listed previously to:
    
    	 Alphason Sonata turnatble
    	 Alphason HR100-MCS arm
    	 Ortofon Quattro moving coil cartridge
    
    	 Akai AT93L Tuner
    
    	 Cambridge Audio C100 pre-amp
    	 Cambridge Audio A100 power amp
    
    	 Triangle (Meridian model) loudspeakers
    
    All supported on an Alphason 4 shelf rack (one for records).
    
    Also have an Aiwa ADF270 tape deck to make up tapes for the car.
    
    still have a Linn LP12 turntable which I have been comparing with 
    the Alphason over the last six months, but the time has come to 
    let it go..... to allow the acquisition of a CD player... 
    currently looking at the possibility of a Micromega.
    								      
    I noticed a review in a recent copy of Audiophile magazine which 
    seemed similar to my setup, other than the turntable plus the use 
    of Audio Innovations valve amps... which would also be an upgrade 
    path for me.
    
    However, it's not the equipment that really matters, but the 
    enjoyable sounds that emanate!
    
    Gary
    

	The flat was broken into last week, so the hifi now consists
	of a pair Celestion DL4 Mk II's with Roksan cables.  Glad the
	thief left the cables as I only bought them last weekend :-)

	Anyway, providing the Insurance company pays up, audition time
	starts now.

	I'm considering 

	CD:	either Technics SLPG 200AK or	Pioneer RD 9700

	Amp:	either a Mission Cyrus One or	Audiolab 8000A

	Tape:	Technics BX 404

	
	Not bothering with a tuner this time !

	Iain.

	P.S.  I've decided that using LP's instead of CD's might be a
	      good idea.  They left 100 Lp's, 95 Cassettes, but took
	      88 CD's.

	We've finally managed to get some music back into the Stephen 
	Household.

	The Insurance money came through just before Christmas and I 
	had really good fun listening to lots of different bits of kit.

	The system is now

	Rotel RCD 965 BX 	-	CD Player
	Audiolab 8000P		-	Power Amplifier
	Celestion DL4 Mk II	-	Speakers

	Hitachi 770		-	Nicam Video
	QED p1 Incon		-	Interconnects
	Linn 			-	Speaker cables
	
	All this is sitting on a Sound Organisation rack.

	I've changed the pot in my passive pre-amp to be a log 100k
	type of better quality than the first and the pre-amp is 
	working really well (including my tape loop).

	How does it sound ?  Its far more detailed then my old Technics/
	Cyrus I kit.  The CD player seems to be able to extract very fine
	detail from the CD's that I hadn't heard before.  However, I bought
	the Tracy Chapman CD and found that it sounded slower than the LP
	I used to have, but everything else sounds great.

	Next move is to buy some new speakers in Feb/Mar.  Initially I 
	was looking at AE-1's.  But, I've pretty well deciided on KEF
	103/4 Refernce speakers (subtle difference in size :) ).  Then
	or at the same time I'm going to add the Audiolab 8000DAC to 
	the Rotel.  I had a listen to this when I finally chose the CD
	player and was stunned at the difference it made to the sound.

	anyway, its nice to have music again.

	Iain.

    I've reading for a while, about time I contributed here.
    
    REGA III with Linn K9
    CREEK 4140? (the slightly more powerfull one with no base/treble knobs)
    HEYBROOK HB1s, not the most uptodate jobs, but nice big upfront sound.
    
    And for good measure a Sharp NICAM/HI-FI VCR plugged into the CD input
    on the amp.  ;-)
    
    Mike Webster. DESISCO.

Since my last note here, I've added a Panasonic NICAM VCR to the system, through
the 2nd Tape input of the Naim 72.

My Lingo croaked on me and has had to be returned to the UK for warranty service
Since I have been without te LP12 for hte last 2 months, I re-fitted the 
Valhalla kit to it last night. It was *so good* to hear good music again.

Quite a clear distinction between the Lingo and the Valhalla. The Valhalla is
nowhere near as good at handling the bass, loosing control and giving a more
wooly bass thanthe Lingo which has a marvellous precision. Still its a lot
better than nothing.

	I picked up my KEF 103.4 speakers today from PJ Hifi in
	Guildford.  Can't wait to get home :)

	System now looks like :

	Rotel RDC965BX
	Passive volume box
	Audiolab 8000p Power Amp
	Headcase headphone amplifier

	and

	KEF 103.4 speakers

    The Kef 103.4 speakers are great.  What a difference they make to the
    overall sound of the system.  I spent most of last night listening to
    CD's that I've played over and over before, noticing things like bass
    instruments that I've never heard before.
    
    What a difference from the Celestion DL 4 Mk. II's I've been using. 
    But there again a major difference in price too.
    
    Iain.

    update to .49
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
    
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE    
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    Panasonic NVF-65B Hi-Fi VCR
    
    And a new addition today is a Nakamichi Amplifier 2 

    Grant
    

    Currently lurking in the living room:
    
    Rega Planar 2 with AT95E cartridge
    Denon DRM22 Tape Deck
    Denon TU260L Tuner
    Rotel RA820-BX2 Amp
    B&W DM110i speakers on 36" Apollo Stands
    Philips CD104B CD player
    
    The CD player is going shortly. The above system has be described as
    giving refined grunt by most auditioners. It really holds together best
    a high volumes, but only when the neighbours are out.

I've picked up a Trampolin to demo on my Sondek which has recently been reunited
with it's Lingo after a lengthy (3 months!) warranty repair fiasco complete
with a round trip to Linn in the UK.

It *does* make a surprising difference to the LP12, although I suspect that it
would be more marked if I had my LP12 on a table (it's on a wall-mounted
bracket). Seems to provide an added clarity around the mid-bass region, but the
effect is gradual, rather than spectactular.

Next step is to trial just the baseboard material as I suspect this is where the
greatest change occurs. The thing costs $400 down here which is highway robbery.

Other thing is that I'm leaving Digital after 7 years and sinking some loot into
a small company with a couple of others, after a long holiday that is. I've had
a great time in Digital and enjoyed this conference. Great to find out that
there are other strangely twisted people around the world who have a passion
for music and sound and round black vinyl...

cheers,
Dave.

    Thought it was about time I entered this:
    
    CD - Meridian 206 Multibit
         - using AD847 opamp, replacing the NE5532 on the audio output
         - 100 ohm resistors on output replaced with Holco types
         - power supply regulators replaced with Linear Technologies devices
    
    Record Deck - Systemdek, Linn Basik Plus arm and K9 cartridge
         - added a Linn Valhalla power supply to the deck
    
    RIAA preamp - Linn LK1 feeds into stepped attenuator
    
    Passive Preamp - based on components from the Audio Synthesis PAS-02 
                     Stepped Attenuator (all Holco resistor based)
    
    Power Amps - Hart / Linsley Hood "Audio Design" monoblocks, using Holcos
                 in the signal path and Sidereal capacitors
    
    Speakers - EPOS ES11 (the only component I've not modified!)
    
    Cables - interconnect is Kimber PSB with all signal internal wiring being
             Kimber TC
           - speaker cable is Linn K400, internal amp connections are also
             K400
    
    

Having hinted in a few notes about the hardware that comprises my
hi-fi, I think it time to provide a list:


    o Arcam Delta 60 Amplifier
    o Arcam Alpha CD player
    o Yamaha RD 350 Tuner (fed from loft-mounted aerial)
    o Marantz SD62 cassette deck
    o Dual 505-2 deck (with standard cartridge)
    o Rega EL8 speakers - linked using Audioquest Type 4 cable
    o Sennheiser 450-II headphones

Interconnects are mostly Tandy gold-plated, though the CD -> Amp link
is a special, made up by the dealer.

The Dual will be replaced soon though I'm not yet sure what with. I
guess that, since I'm in Scotland, a Linn deck of some description
might not be out of the question... Auditioning (Linn vs. Rega vs. ?)
takes place in a month or so.

Music collection consists of about 50 LPs, 150 CDs, plus a number of
pre-recorded cassettes (old favourites from student days  8-) ). Now
that I have an amp which makes vinyl sound good (and soon getting a
deck which can partner it), the amount of vinyl will probably
increase.

r

    In a system like yours I'd tend to put Kans but the I'd put Kans in
    just about any system :-) But I'd be sure to listen to them with your
    CD/LD player as they may sound a but over bright.
    
    	Rik

Things have changed since 19.56,

	Sources
		Linn LP-12 / Lingo / Ekos / Troika
		Linn Karik�/ Numerik

	Control
		Linn Kairn

	Amplification
		Linn LK-2

	Speakers
		Linn Kaber

�What is / was a Karik ?
    

    update to .83
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
    
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE    
    AR 8Ls Bookshelf Loud Speakers
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    Panasonic NVF-55B Hi-Fi VCR
    Nakamichi Amplifier 2 

    And bought last weekend.
    
    YAMAYA DSP-E200 Dolby Pro-Logic Processor
    YAMAHA NS-C70 Centre Speaker
    Celestion 3 Speakers (For Rear effects)
    Target TAP 3 Wall Brackets for the Celestions
    QED 79 strand cable for the rear effects speakers
    
    
   Grant
    

    My system has gone as far it's going for a long, long time now.....
    
    LP12(just replaced)/Linngo/Ekos/Arkiv
    Kairn/LK280/Spark
    Kabers wired with K600.
    
    Since the Kabers arrived, the living room has been littered not only
    with LPs, but CDs too.
    
    The wait while I improved the signal fed to the speakers was worth it. 
    
    Bliss.
    
    Dave

An update to what's lurking in my living room.

I've upgraded my amplifier to an ONIX OA21-S (from Reading HiFi),
described somewhere else in this conference.

I've also upgraded my cassette Deck to an AIWA ADF-410.

However, for my last offence, I should be drummed out of the UK Audio
Notes file, or at least have my moderator privilege taken away.

I went to have a look at CD players at Audio T in Basingstoke, and bought
one without having a proper listen. The dealer just plugged a Denon/Yamaha
into an expensive Linn system, while we listened to a bit of U2. My wife
didn't believe all the b****cks about systems sounding different, and so
had no patience with extensive listening. I chose the Yamaha CDX-750E in
preference for a �200 Denon CD player.

So my setup is now as follows:

REGA Planar II with RB-250 Arm & Rega Bias cartridge
Yamaha CDX-750E CD player
AIWA ADF-410 Cassette player
Secondhand Pioneer tuner
ONIX OA-21S
Wharfedale Diamond Mk II speakers on Linn Index stands

I'm very pleased with the quality of the CD player. Only time, and a familiar
disk will show whether or not I find the sound tiring.

I briefly tried it on a free Q CD, with Prefab Sprout Appetite against my LP
of Steve McQueen. The LP sounded more laid back, but with less detail, whilst
the CD sounded like it had more detail. After listening to Larry Wiltshire's
system with AT-OCF9 moving coil cartridge, I was staggered by the amount of
detail revealed.

Maybe my next purchase will be a better cartridge!

Cheers.

Mark.

    I finally bought my new system.
    
    OK, what I got, and why:
    
    Rotel RCD 965 BX Limited Edition CD
          RTC 950 AX Tuner/Pre-amp
           RB 960 BX Power Amp
    2 x 75cm Monster Cable Interlink 400s
    2 x 2 metre Monster Cable Powerline 2 & 4 gold banana plugs.
    
    Total cost fl 3.650,- (about $US 2,200.-) including tax.
    
    The SMGs I already had.
    
    Why?  The usual compromise of budget, taste, etc.  First, of course,
    the sound is *good*.  And Rotel is great value for money (NB: Adcom is
    virtually unknown over here, so I never got to try them out).
    
    The CD is a given, I think.  As Hi-Fi Choice said of the standard 965,
    a Best Buy with knobs on!  (Also, to be honest, I got the LE at the
    normal price of the standard, which helped the budget).
    
    The 950 pre-amp section is supposedly identical to the RC 960 BX, which
    is pretty damned good for the money.  The tuner section is more than
    adequate for my needs (it may surprise people to know that in the
    Netherlands we get our radio via cable!  AM bands are supplied on FM
    frequencies (on cable), which explains the high number of mono 'FM'
    stations).  And the remote controls everything: switching, tuner, CD,
    cassette, and the volume (motorised).
    
    The 960 is perhaps a bit of a compromise.  I wanted a single vendor
    system.  I see it as perhaps the weak link in the system, but then I
    can always upgrade later.  I thought the 980 was greatly overpriced,
    and the 960 has more than enough grunt to drive the SMGs.  But don't
    get me wrong.  This is a good amp, just not the best.  (Peripheral
    note: the 960s only have one pair of speaker connects, so if I want to
    use my Stax Lamdas I risk degrading the signal to the speakers).
    
    The cables were on dealer recommendation.  Also, I got the Powerline 2
    cables for the price of the Powerline 3s, because he had run out of the
    3s.  I really couldn't justify (nor did the dealer push) paying about
    twice the price of the Interlink 400s for the 800s.
    
    The end result?  Very satisfying, and I suppose that's what counts. 
    I'm getting much more out of my SMGs than I ever did with my old
    system.
    
    Strong points: Superb midrange.  Voices are outstanding, the mid and
    high end are clean and clear.  Acoustic guitar, violins etc. are
    wonderful.  And the percussion!  So that's what drums sound like!  And
    I thought all thuds were the same...
    
    I'm hearing things I never heard before.  But, perhaps more important,
    it sounds *balanced*.  By that, I mean, *everything* is there.  Ever
    watched a video and been frustrated because although you could see
    someone playing an instrument you couldn't hear it?  I'm finally
    hearing it, if you know what I mean.
    
    Weak points: Imaging is a bit loose.  This could perhaps be improved by
    repositioning things around the room.  Also, when things get busy it
    gets a bit muddled.  I'm fairly sure this has a lot to do with the
    acoustics of the room, which leads me to the...
    
    Bizarre point: I have a problem with bass boom.  Yes, you read that
    right.  The guy with the SMGs (and running the tone controls turned
    off) is getting too much bass.  Anyone who thinks planars can't blow
    the neighbours into the next house hasn't heard them in a room with my
    acoustics!
    
    Essentially, the problem is too many hard surfaces.  This will, of
    course, contribute both to the boom and the muddle when the volume is
    pushed a bit too far.  The amp is handling things OK, as the volume
    control is barely at 11 o'clock.  It's all that energy bouncing around
    off hard things that's the problem.
    
    Final point: I can live with this system.  Naturally, I wanted
    perfection for nothing, but I ain't a Rockefeller...  The system suits
    my tastes (Jethro Tull, Dire Straights, Pink Floyd, Handel, Mozart
    etc).  Perhaps I should add that the quality of mixing and recording
    (good, bad and woeful) is now readily apparent.

    I just started replacing the entire lot:
    
    EPOS ES14 speakers  (new)
    Standesign Z20/50 stands  (new)
    Philips CDV475 CD Video (<1 year, for sale)
    Sennheiser HD530 headphones (<2 years)
    Philips CD650 CD (3 years)
    Technics SL10 turntable (>7 years, with fresh 305MCII cartridge)
    Technics RS-M88 cassette (>7 years, = RS-M85 with metal tape)
    Yamaha CA2010 amp (10 years, for sale)
    Yamaha CT-V2 tuner (12 years)
    
    I intended to spend 1,000 pounds on a new amp and CD player, but now
    that I know what you can achieve with say 2,000 pounds, I am postponing
    the next stage until I can afford a good Linn/NAIM/Whoknowswhat setup.
    
    In the study:
    
    Sansui TU-707 tuner (>6 years)
    Kenwood KA405 amp (old)
    Marantz 5120 cassette (older)
    Heco Precision speakers (very old)
                              

	It must be Christmas time again !

	My system now looks like this

	Rotel RCD 965 BX 		-	CD Player
	Audiolab 8000C 			-	Preamplifier
	Audiolab 8000P 			-	Power Amplifier
	Kef Ref. 103/4's		-	Speakers

	After a year, I decided that the home made passive volume
	control had to go.  I was having real problems matching the
	output levels with the power amp.  Listened to the 8000C and 
	a Meridian 201 control unit, and chose the 8000C because I 
	liked the gentler sound.  The 201 was very up front - I found 	
	myself always adjusting the volume level whilst listening.

	Also had a listen to the Linn Karik and Numeric into the 	
	Audiolab and Kef setup.  

	Guess what I want for Christmas next year...

	Iain.	

Gosh, this stuff costs...

	Kenwood DP1100SG 	- CD/Transport
	Deltec Little Bit	- Bitstream DAC
	Musical Fidelity A1	- Amplifier/Barbeque
	Linn Index II		- Speakers with Q-Stone granite stands!
	Some sort of thick over head power cable, bi-wired to each speaker
	Kenwood <mumble>	- Reasonable Cassette

	Mitsibishi M55		- VHS Hi-Fi NICAM Video
	Toshiba 2805DB		- Large Screen, Dolby Surround NICAM TV.
	Dodgy surround speakers that came with the tv.  Wired with bell    
     wire thay they came with also!

Looking forward to a few flicks appearing over the christmas period.  Most 
mail order places are falling over each other to knock hundreds off TV's. 
This surround stuff is quite interesting, with sound effects also happening 
behind you as you watch a film.  Very involving stuff!

Thank god the new TV has a variable pre-amp line-out.  At last I can enjoy 
the A1/Linn combination's efforts at stereo TV  *AND* use a remote control 
for the volume level.

Regards,
Robert.

    
    My system has metamorphosed almost completely since my earlier entry in
    this topic (it was interesting to re-read what I wrote four years ago !)
    
    The main system is now:
    
    Arcam Alpha CD
    Naim NAC72/HICAP/NAP140  amps
    Epos ES11 loudspeakers
    
    Secondary sources:
    
    Rega 2  (bought 2nd hand through this very conference)
    SONY TCFX150B  - cheap and cheerful cassette deck
    Mission Cyrus Tuner 
    
    All sitting on a Target TT6 rack. The last two components are the only
    ones left from 1988.

since last upgrade,

Pre. Amp	HORCH 1.2s (*
Amp		HORCH 3.0s (*
TT		REGA III
		RB300
		van den Hul MC 1 superII (some call it Grasshopper!)
Tuner		Marantz 2265B
Speakers	Audiostat ES 200 (electostatic)
Cables		some KIMBER, v.d.Hul and Isoda

(* = new, 

/Klaus

    Never actually done this yet. Here goes :-
    
    MARANTZ CD65IISE . This has been POOGE4'd as outlines by messrs Meakins
    and CLARK . AD 847 op amps, no safety resistors, biasing resistors
    toward CLASS A, pp coupling caps.plenty of dedsheet everywhere
    internally. sits on home made ISOPLAT ( 4 blobs of sorbothane under a
    sheet of 1/2" perspex)
    
    PRE-AMP QED PASSIVE CONTROL thing. Totally passive switching and volume
    unit. Uses an alps pot . Thought about using a sfernice (any comments
    Clive)
    
    POWER AMP Radford STA15. Class A 15 Valve amp circa 1962. rebuilt it
    along the lines of the QUAD II mods in recent HFN&RR. HOLCOS and SOLEN
    caps everywhere, silver plated ptfe wiring. changed the driver heaters
    from AC to DC with external power supply. All Golden Dragon valves. The
    output taps have been hardwired at 16 Ohms as there are only two types
    of speakers worth considering and they are both 16 Ohm ;-)
    
    SPEAKERS Goodmans built LS3/5a's. replaced the connectors with Michel
    binding posts.
    
    DAC kelvin LABS DAC. bitstream 7320 design. have built external
    low-impedence high current power supply following Mr meakins example.
    may be selling as it's low output does'nt suite a passive setup. shame
    as it sounds really good.
    
    Interconnects. MAPLIN low-capacitance coax or TANDY patch cord.
    Following on from something Mr watson said I have seperate earth straps
    going from the connectors at the back of the CD player direct to the
    amps star earth point.
    
    Speaker cable is Audioquest F-18, but can't tell any difference from
    twin and earth mains cable.
    
    STANDS :LINN KAN speaker stands and a foundation support table, which
    is creaking under the strain of a 40Lb amplifier.
    
    Future.
    
    still would like to swap the speakers for the other 16 (15 actually)
    ohm speakers, QUAD ESL's, but space is limited.
    
    should the CD player give up the ghost. I'd probably go for the Musical
    Fidelity CDT because it's so impractical .

    re .100
    
    The Sfernice pot is good.  It's problem is that it's not available
    twin-ganged below 100k.  You really need 10k or 20k.  The newest ones
    have much better stereo balance than the old ones.  You could of course
    use two 10k pots and suffer the inconvenience.  Sfernice are better in all
    respects than ALPS - except for balance between channels.  Ther is also
    the black ALPS pot as used by Naim, it's meant to be good, but
    difficult to get hold of.
    
    Hope you've been following the ETI valve preamp discussion in AUDIO
    conference.  Notwithstanding the problems, it IS very good.
    
    Could you drop me a mail on where you bought your Schottkey (sp?) from,
    a friend near you needs a convenience source.

    Thought it time that I described the current state of my system:
    
    CD - Meridian 206 Multibit - changes to opamps (AD847), resistors
    swapped for Holco types and regulators are now by Linear Technology.
    
    Record deck - Systemdek IIX / Linn Basik Plus arm / Linn K9 cartridge
    (anyone got an RB300 for sale?).  Power to the deck is via a Linn
    Valhalla board.
    
    Phono preamp is a Hart fully discrete component unit made from kit
    form.  Reviewed in HFN/RR April 1993.
    
    Interconnects are Kimber PSB
    
    Preamp has been a version of of the Audio Synthesis PAS-02 swtitch
    attenuator, this is now front enfed by a valve preamp built from an ETI
    published circuit.
    
    Power amps (monoblocks) are Hart kits.  Reviewed HFN/RR April 1992.
    
    Speaker cable is Linn K400.
    
    Speakers are EPOS ES11. 

    update to .91
    
    I now have the following :
    
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE    
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    Panasonic NVF-55B Hi-Fi VCR
    Pioneer CLD-1750 PAL/NTSC Laserdisc player
    Nakamichi Amplifier 2
    YAMAHA DSP-E200 Dolby Pro-Logic Processor
    YAMAHA NS-C70 Centre Speaker
    Celestion 3 Speakers (For Rear effects)
    Target TAP 3 Wall Brackets for the Celestions
    QED 79 strand cable for the rear effects speakers
    
    and I just got today
    
    B & W DM620i  Floor standing loudspeakers.
    
   Grant
    

    Hello,
    
    Mine Hi-Fi is as follows:
    
    Technics PG440A CD Player
    Pioneer A-401   Amplifier
    Aiwa ADWX-929   Cassette Deck
    B&W DM620       Loudspeakers
    
    So far I'm very pleased with the performance of the system.
    Any comments are acceptable...
    

Well,

I have a couple of upgrades to .93.

My next upgrade was a better cartridge, I now have a REGA Elys
attached to my REGA II.

I have also upgraded my Diamonds on Linn Index stands to
REGA EL8's which are floor mounted. I have therefore removed
the only Linn sourced bit of equipment in my stereo!

The EL8's are a vast improvement on my Diamonds. I was rather
sad to see the Diamonds go at first, but that was before I got
to listen to the EL8's on my system.

The sound is absolutely stunning. The treble is gloriously sweet
& detailed, and there is plenty of tuneful bass.

I'd like to compare my speakers to wine. The Diamonds are a cheap
& cheerful robust red wine. Excellent to drink, can be a bit harsh,
and (who knows) may give you a headache. (actually, I never got a
headache from my Diamonds!). The EL8's are a finer vintage, however,
smooth, mellow, but with lots of subtle details to the taste.

What b******'s I hear you say!

I'm a happy man, ready to take the afternoon off, for another listen
to my stereo.

Mark.

For the record, here is the current lurk list:

REGA Planar II with RB-250 Arm & Rega Elys cartridge
Yamaha CDX-750E CD player
AIWA ADF-410 Cassette player
Secondhand Pioneer tuner
ONIX OA-21S
REGA EL8 floor mounted speakers.

    update to .91
    In my bedroom 23' x 12' overall I now have
 
    Ariston Q-Deck Turntable
    DENON DRW750 Twin Cassette Deck
    Marantz CD50SE
    Technics ST-G450L Tuner
    Target Speaker Stands
    Panasonic NVF-55B Hi-Fi VCR
    Nakamichi Amplifier 2 
    YAMAYA DSP-E200 Dolby Pro-Logic Processor
    YAMAHA NS-C70 Centre Speaker
    Celestion 3 Speakers (For Rear effects)
    Target TAP 3 Wall Brackets for the Celestions
    QED 79 strand cable for the rear effects speakers
    Pioneer CLD 1750 PAL/NTSC Laser Disc Player
    B & W 620i Floor Standing speakers
    Sony KV-X2962 29" TV Set
    Panasonic NV-HD100 Hi-Fi VCR

 
   Grant
 

    Grant,
    	The only thing it looks like you've not updated is you bedroom.
    Mind you 23' x 12' is almost as big as my lounge...
    
    	Rik

Well it help living with my Parents :-)

And there is yet another update to .106

	I have replaced the NS-C70 with a B&W 600IFS.

I thionk that is all that needs updating for the near future.

The UCI Pangbourne sounds a lot better now ;-)

Grant

    Update to 19.95: replaced my good old Yamaha CA2010 amp (but didn't
    sell it) with an integrated Copland CT401 amp. Next step is speaker
    cables and a decent CD player / combo.
    
    Jelle Kooi @APD

It seems that my system changes every two years at Christmas time.

	Meridian 506 CD Player
	Meridian 551 Integrated Amplifier
	Meridian MSR Remote System

	Kef 103/2 Speakers
	Van den Hull Interconnect

The sound is clearer, the remote control is great.  

Next move is to multi-room installation.

Iain

    After some recent changes I now have the following system:
    
    Turntable: Systemdek IIX2
    Tonearm:   Rega RB300
    Cartridge: Audio Technica OC5
    CD Player: Philips CD 960
    Amplifier: Sugden A21a
    Speakers:  Harbeth P3es
    Cassette Deck : Nakamichi DR2
    Tuner:     Mission Cyrus
    Interconnects:  Audionote AVN9s  cd player
                    Furukawa FS21    cassette deck
                    Furukawa 6n      tuner
    
    Speaker cable:  Furukawa 2T15s  tweeter
                    Furukawa 2T35s  driver
    
    I am hoping to upgrade the cd player to a Sugden SDT1 in the near
    future, but the new pro head model is an extra 600 pounds, thanks to 
    Philips decision to stop producing cd head units. CDM9 pro head units
    are the only transorts still available but in short supply.